Moderating Effect of Materialism on the Inaction Inertia Phenomenon

  • Authors

    • Seongsoo Lee
    • . .
    2018-09-01
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.34.19400
  • Inaction inertia, Materialism, Anticipated action regret, Anticipated inaction regret, Experienced regret

  • Abstract

    Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether materialism tendency will act as a moderating variable for the inaction inertia phenomenon.

    Methods/Statistical analysis: A total of 121 college students were randomly assigned to 2 (difference in attractiveness condition: large vs. small) × 2 (materialism: high vs. low) mixed design. Respondents read two-part scenario and responded to several questions: manipulation check item to assess perceived attractiveness, some questions related to regret (immediate regret, recalled experienced regret, anticipated inaction regret, anticipated action regret), behavioral intention, and demographics.

    Findings: First, the manipulation of the perception of difference in attractiveness (manipulated with price difference) was as the researcher intended. Immediate regret after missing the initial opportunity, recalled experienced regret, and anticipated action regret were found to be varied on the level of materialism. The level of recalled experienced regret, anticipated action regret, and anticipated inaction regret varied according to the difference in attractiveness conditions. The interaction effects of the level of materialism and difference in attractiveness conditions appeared only for anticipated action regret and anticipated inaction regret. Anticipated action regret and inaction regret were found to have a significant effect on behavioral intention regardless of the level of materialism. On the other hand, recalled experienced regret had a significant impact on behavioral intention only in low-materialist group.

    Improvements/Applications: This study has theoretical and practical implications from the point of view of how the various kinds of regrets vary according to materialism in the area of inaction inertia effect.

     

     

  • References

    1. [1] Tykocinski, O. E., Pittman, T. S., & Tuttle, E. E.(1995). Inaction Inertia: Foregoing Future Benefits as a Result of an Initial Failure to Act. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(5), 793-803.

      [2] Tykocinski, O. E. & Pittman, T. S. (1998). The Consequences of Doing Nothing: Inaction Inertia as Avoidance of Anticipated Counterfactual Regret. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(3), 607-616.

      [3] Patrick, V. M., Lancellotti, M. P., &Demello, G.(2009). Coping with non-purchase: Managing the Stress of Inaction Regret. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 19, 463-472.

      [4] Butler, A. &Highhouse, S.(2000). Deciding to Sell: The Effect of Prior Inaction and Offer Source. Journal of Economic Psychology, 21, 223-232.

      [5] Richins, M. L. & Dawson, S. (1992). A Consumer Values Orientation for Materialism and Its Measurement: Scale Development and Validation. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(December), 303-315.

      [6] Rueda, M. R., Posner, M. I., &Rothbart, M. K.(2004). Attentional Control and Self-Regulation. in R. F. Baumeister& K. D. Vohs (ed.), Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory, and Applications. 283-300, NY: The Guilford Press.

      [7] Sevdalis, N., Harvey, N., & Yip, M. (2006). Regret Triggers Inaction Inertia –But which Regret and How? British Journal of Social Psychology, 45, 839-853.

      [8] Lee, S. (2015). The Moderating Effect of Regulatory Focus on the Effect of Inaction Inertia: The Mediating Effect of Anticipated Regret and Satisfaction. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 8(19).

      [9] Van Putten, M., Zeelenberg, M., & Van Dijk, E.(2009). Dealing with Missed Opportunities: Action vs. State Orientation Moderates Inaction Inertia. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 808-815.

      [10] Lee, S. (2013). The Inaction Inertia Effect: The Moderating Effect of the Consideration of Future Consequences. Journal of Next Generation Information Technology, 4(8), 154-161.

      [11] Daun, A.(1983). The Materialistic Life-style: Some Socio-Psychologistic Aspects in Consumer Behavior. NY: The Dryden Press.

      [12] Belk, R.(1985). Materialism: Trait Aspects of Living in the Material World. Journal of Consumer Research, 12, 265-280.

      [13] Inglehert, R.(1981). Post-Materialism in an Environment of Insecurity. American Political Science Review, 75, 880-900.

      [14] Richins, M. L.(1987). Media, Materialism and Human Happiness. Advances in Consumer Research, 14, 352-356.

      [15] Kasser, T. &Kanner, A. D.(2003). Psychology and Consumer Culture: The Struggle for a Good Life in a Materialistic World. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

      [16] Rassuli, K. M. & Hollander, S. C.(1986). Desire-Induced, Innate, Insatiable? Journal of Macro Marketing, 6(Fall), 4-24.

      [17] Vargas, P. & Yoon, S.(2006). On the Psychology of Materialism: Wanting Things, Having Things, and Being Happy. Advertising and Society Review, 7(1)

      [18] Tilikidou, I. and Delistavrou, A. (2004). The Influence of the Materialistic Values on Consumers’ Pro-Envrionmental Post-Purchase Behavior. In: Cron, W.L. and Low, G.S. (Eds.) Marketing Theory and Applications, Proceedings of the 2004 American Marketing Association Winter Educators’ Conference, vol. 15, Chicago IL., A.M.A., pp. 42-49.

      [19] Vohra, A. V. (2016). Materialism, Impulse Buying and Conspicuous Consumption: A Qualitative Research. Global Business Review, 17(1), 51-67.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Lee, S., & ., . (2018). Moderating Effect of Materialism on the Inaction Inertia Phenomenon. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(3.34), 611-615. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.34.19400

    Received date: 2018-09-10

    Accepted date: 2018-09-10

    Published date: 2018-09-01